# Is "Termination Shock" by Neal Stephenson a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow, 2021) is identified by: Morrow hardcover, 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a full number line ending in 1. US Morrow hardcover (November 2021) is the true first; the UK Borough Press edition followed about a week later.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Morrow hardcover, 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a full number line ending in 1
- A publisher-issued signed edition, also first printing, carries a different ISBN and a Signed Edition seal on the jacket
- Publisher imprint reads William Morrow
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Neal Stephenson |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Year | 2021 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Morrow hardcover, 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a full number line ending in 1 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Morrow hardcover, 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page with a full number line ending in 1. A publisher-issued signed edition, also first printing, carries a different ISBN and a Signed Edition seal on the jacket.

## Is this the true first?
US Morrow hardcover (November 2021) is the true first; the UK Borough Press edition followed about a week later.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Trade only.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Termination Shock* by Neal Stephenson a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/termination-shock
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.